While there is certainly plenty of rich history to celebrate over the last 100 years in Mission Beach, one of the icons that remains today is The Plunge, which opened in May 1925 as the centerpiece of Belmont Park. The 60-foot-by-175-foot pool was, at the time, the largest saltwater pool in the world holding 400,000 gallons of water. Courtesy photo

A monument-plaque dedication, the symbolic launch in a months-long series of events to commemorate Mission Beach’s centennial, will be held Saturday, March 22 starting at 10 a.m. with a neighborhood walk followed by an 11 a.m. formal presentation.

The community is invited to join the processional by walking to Oceanfront Walk from their courts, then join speakers at the dedication site during a presentation of a city proclamation. Speeches will be given by Mayor Kevin Faulconer; Nancy Geller, president of the Mission Beach Women’s Club; and Scott Morrison, president of the Mission Beach Town Council. There will also be an appearance by SeaWorld’s Shamu Mascot.

The monument is being funded by the Mission Beach Women’s Club and the Mission Beach Town Council.

“A boulder monument with an embedded, oxidized bronze plaque with sponsors’ names will be placed in the southwest corner of Belmont Park between the bathrooms and the new restaurant (under construction),” said Wendy Crain, centennial celebration co-chairwoman with Debbie Watkins for the event. “Residents will meet at the boardwalk, to include centennial committee members, who will walk to the monument for the mayoral proclamation. After that, we’ll have refreshments with music from Mission Bay High School jazz band.”

Refreshments for the free centennial celebration event are being supplied by Olive and Firehouse cafes, Caffee Calabaria and Bahia Resort Hotel.

Crain said the monument walk’s special guests will be on hand, including Mission Beach centennial’s “instigator,” local historian Phil Prather, who co-wrote “Images of America Mission Beach” with Terry Curren.

Another notable on the centennial guest list will be Elaine Harris, Mission Club Women’s Club’s “mascot” in the late ’20s.

The event will also feature a Mission Beach memorabilia sale, including T-shirts, house flags and the centennial logo.

The Mission Beach centennial beach “birthday” features an event each month, continuing in April with a Taste of MB that will feature food samples from local restaurants. May’s festivities showcase a surf contest and meet-the-legends event, followed in June with a Father’s Day vintage car show at Belmont Park.

The party renews with a movie viewing at The Plunge pool in July and an August sandcastle event. The celebration concludes with a volleyball/horseshoes beachfest in early September and the grand finale, a

Sept. 27 Centennial Festival at Belmont Park/Ventura Boulevard.

The first big milestone in Mission Beach’s history was June 14, 1914, when a syndicate headed by John D. Spreckles and managed by George S. Barney submitted a subdivision map surveyed by D.A. Loebenstein to the “Common Council” of San Diego for approval and acceptance in Dec. 14, 1914, the first official map of Mission Beach was signed and adopted.

For more information about Mission Beach’s centennial, visit www.missionbeachcentennial.org.